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Sunday, January 30, 2011

It's Sale-A-Bration time and I just love the new Punch Bunch stamp set. The Happy Birthday stamp from this set makes a great focal point for this Pretty in Pink Birthday Card.

Details: Use the Pinking Hearts Corner Punch to create the Espresso medallion, by punching each corner of a 2-3/8" Early Espresso square. I stamped the Happy Birthday stamp in Rose Red Ink and then cut it out along the dotted white line. I punched a Pretty in Pink Scallop Square and adhered it behind the stamped piece. I then added glitter to this piece by inking it up with Versamark and embossing it with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. I hand-sewed the clear heart buttons to the card with pink embroidery floss.

Question from Comments:I can't seem to get the hang of punching the medallion. I have the scallop edge corner punch. Could that be the problem. I punch all four corners, and get sort of a lump in the middle of each side. Any hints?First make sure you are using the Pinking Hearts Corner Punch. The Pinking Hearts Corner Punch is different than most corner punches in that it has a point in the center of it with two edges on either side. Next make sure that you are using a piece of card stock that is a 2-3/8" square. You can not create a larger medallion by making the square larger. It only works with this size. If this doesn't answer your question, please post another comment and I will try to clarify further.

I only have the scalloped edge corner punch so far. Do you know anything cool to do with that one?If I only had a the scalloped edge corner punch, I would start with a 1-15/16" Square piece of card stock. Carefully, corner punch all of the corners (this might take a little practice). Next layer the scallop square on an angle. This will create a different looking medallion, but I think it would still work for this type of card. See photo below. You could also create two scallop edge medallions and layer them, so that eight points were showing.

I've fallen in love with your punch owl trifold card, and have made two of my own already. I'll try to post them on SCS tomorrow, if that's OK with you. Also, how can I subscribe to your blog?To subscribe to my blog, just click on the "follow via Google friend connect" button and follow the instructions. This button appears in the right hand column of my blog. If you have reached me through my Demo Business Site, you will need to open my QbeesQuest.com blog in a new tab or window to see the right side of my blog. You are welcome to post your own version of my owl trifold cards. Just remember if it is a close copy (also called CASE in the stamping world), it is generally considered polite to give the source of your copied card. Thanks for visiting my blog and asking questions. I'm always happy to answer them.

Friday, January 28, 2011

This is my first scrapbook page using MDS (My Digital Studio). I'm trying to create some pages of our Sheltie Bella who was diagnosed with cancer last year. Bella has been my walking partner for 11 years, but last year she started having difficulty walking. In the fall, her cancer had progressed so far that she was unable to walk further than a few houses away. Sometimes I would have to carry her back home. A friend of mine urged me to get a dog stroller and finally after dismissing her idea, I came to my senses and ordered one. It has been the best thing for Bella and I. We can finally go for walks again. I walk her as far as she can go and then I pop her in the stroller when she's ready. She loves smelling everything from her stroller. Her little nose twitches as we walk along and she sits up when she gets excited. We are both so happy to be able to walk together again. Woof! Woof! Woof!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

I had some Hershey's Chocolate Bars leftover from making S'mores and I thought I better make them into gifts before I ate them all. I've never made slider covers in this size before, so I had to figure out all the measurements. Since I had to figure everything out anyway, I thought I would write a tutorial to show you how to make your own. If you have any questions please write me a comment and I will update my blog entry with your answers. All supplies are listed at the end of the tutorial.

Directions:1. Start with a 6" x 6" piece of card stock. Score at: 2-1/2", 2-3/4", 5-1/4" & 5-1/2"2. Place the scored piece in front of you with the score marks running vertically. Punch the end that is furthest away from you with the oval punch 1/4" from the end and centered on one of the 2-1/2" scored segments. Repeat for the other 2-1/2" segment.3. Place a line of sticky strip on the outside 1/2" segment.

4. Fold card stock along all score lines. Remove sticky strip liner and bring together to make cover.

5. Feed a 20" length of 1-1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon through the two oval holes.

6. Place the Hershey's Chocolate Bar between the ribbon and start pushing it into the cover.

7. Slide Hershey's Bar in all the way and tie a knot at the top. When you pull on the knot the Hershey's bar will slide out.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

This is another project that my stamper's club will be making in February. I first saw an explosion box purse done by the talented Kelly Gettelfinger and knew that I had to make one of my own. Below I have created a mini tutorial on how to make the base for the purse. If you have any questions, please post a comment and I will update my blog with the answers. Supplies are listed at the end of this blog entry.

Explosion Box Purse Base:

1. Start with a piece of 12” x 12” card stock. Score piece 4” in on all four sides.2. Score each of the corner squares diagonally from the corner to the nearest intersection of score lines. You can do this with a ruler and a stylus tool or bone folder, since this step may be difficult to do on your regular scoring tool.3. Score the East and West middle boxes, from the 6” mark on the edge of the card stock to the two closest intersecting score lines.4. Optional: Cut off all four corners on the diagonal. I like to cut off my corners on explosion boxes, because they become very bulky otherwise. This is especially true for the explosion box purse, because all the folds come together at the top.5. Create a purse topper. Here I used the top note die, but you can use any shape you like. The top flap should measure at least 4" across, if you want to hide all the folds at the top when the purse is closed. If you are putting a handle on the purse, it should be attached to the topper (my ribbon handle is hidden in the photo below). I used self-adhesive velcro to keep my purse closed. You may also wish to decorate the inside of your box with designer paper and flat embellishments.

Questions:SheShe Asked, "I tried this but had the hardest time figuring out how to bring the box together, i couldnt figure out which pieces to close first/together. any pointers?"First, make sure that you have scored all the score marks as indicated on the diagrams. Next, make sure that you have folded along all the score lines. Then take a look at the last photo of the tutorial and orient your piece the same way. Bring in the sides first (the tips of the side pieces will touch at the top when the purse is folded together. Next bring the front and the back together. The box should look like a triangle when viewed from the side. I hope this helps.

Monday, January 24, 2011

This is one of the projects my stamp club members will be making in February. The images from the Take a Spin set make a WOW card on their own, but what if you want to include other images? Then it becomes more difficult, because different focal points can compete. That's the problem I encountered when designing this card. I wanted to use the owls from the Punch Bunch set and the Birthday Spinner from the Take a Spin set, but the images were competing with each other for attention. Enter the trifold card. Now each panel has a focal point and the card tells a story. It also looks fabulous as a display card.

When you see the card from the front. The "Party This Way" arrow hints at more surprises to come on the inside. The card base is a So Saffron 12" x 4" piece, scored at the 4" and 8" marks. I think the rest of the card is self-explanatory if you look at the supply list. If you have any questions, please post them and I will update my blog entry with an answer.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

I’m so honored to be recognized with the stylish blog award. Thanks Kadie!! You put a smile on face this morning.

The requirements for receiving this award is as follows: 1) Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award. Thank you Kadie at Kards by Kadie2) Share 8 things about yourself.3) Give the award to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered.4) Contact those bloggers and let them know about their award.

8 things about me:1) I’m a Canadian, eh.2) I don’t live in Canada though.3) I speak 3 languages.4) I grew up in what I now consider one of the best corners on earth. I didn’t realize it until I moved away. My parents tried to tell me how lucky I was to grow up there, but back when I was younger my parents didn’t know anything. They become more intelligent the older I get. 5) I’m a librarian by trade, but I have hung up my bun to be a SAHM and a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.6) I like being neat, but when I stamp I’m very messy. It impedes my artistic flow to tidy up while in the middle of a project. Sometimes I can barely tiptoe around all the obstacles I have created in my craft room.7) I’m addicted to walking. This is an example of how an addiction can be a good thing, unless on the rare day when I can’t walk and my family has to put up with my horrible withdrawal mood.8) My avatar is our Sheltie Bella. Last year Bella was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Right now we are living with the ups and downs of the disease and trying to give our dear Sheltie the best quality of life for her remaining days.

These are the little thank you cards that I made up for everyone who attended my Valentine’s Club Workshop. I just love the new Springtime Vintage Paper in the new Occasions Mini Catalog 2011. It reminds me of my infatuation with Laura Ashley prints in the 90s. The Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon is gorgeous too, with just a hint of shimmer and so nice when tied in a bow. By the way, the Thank You Kindly stamp set used on this card will be available to earn for free with Sale-A-Bration this year!!!!

Details: The card base is 3-½" Square. The Blue Floral layer is a 3” square (that way you can get 16 card layers from a sheet of 12” x 12”). Each bow turned out differently (try as I might to get them to look alike). Everything else should be straightforward when you look at the supply list.

Monday, January 10, 2011

These projects are gifts for my January Stamp Club hostess. While the workshop is Valentine themed, I wanted to show off something other than just Valentine’s samples, so I chose to make these colorful cards and pouch.

Sweet Centers Flower Card

Details: The petals and the leaves of the flowers were first stamped in a lighter color. I used the stamp-a-ma-jig handle to mark my stamp placement. I then cleaned off my stamp, inked in darker color and kissed the stamp to the Medallion background stamp and re-stamped over top of the first stamping. This gives the petals and leaves a textured look.

Details: I have seen several stampers use ovals to create a hot air balloon. For mine, I textured the pieces with the Square Lattice Die. For the sky, I tore a piece of scrap paper and sponged along the edge in Tempting Turquoise ink, gradually moving the scrap piece down to create the illusion of clouds. For the flower field, I tore a piece of Build-a-Bear Workshop Pawsitively Prints II Paper and then sponged with Pear Pizzazz ink.

Friday, January 7, 2011

I made this explosion box for a friend’s birthday. I thought it would be fun to put the Birthday Spinner stamp on the top of the box. When you open the box it looks like a candy dish. I also made a mini 2”x2” card to go with the box. I used the color coach to select my colors. I like to use bright colors for birthday cards and the Real Red really makes the Marina Mist pop.

Details: The base of the box is made with a 9”x9” piece, scored at 3” and 6”. Turn a quarter turn, and score at 3” and 6” again. Then score diagonally from each of the four corners to the nearest corner of the middle square. Then cut off each corner by cutting diagonally from the starting point of each score line to the next closest starting point. The lid is made from a 5-1/8” x 5-1/8” piece, scored in 1” on all 4 sides. Please see Beate’s Explosion Box tutorial for step-by-step instructions on how to make your own (note: I’ve made a slightly larger box than the one in the tutorial).

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Here is one more project I have planned for this month. The pouch is made from a 6"x6" piece of Love Patterns Designer Series Paper (see next paragraph for a tutorial link). This project shows off two types of embossing: heat and dry embossing (using the big shot). The large heart and the Feb 14 from the Filled with Love stamp set are embossed with white embossing powder on Pretty in Pink and Real Red Card Stock. The large heart is then punched out with the Full Heart Punch (I trimmed the heart with scissors afterwards to expose a little more of the scalloped heart behind it). The Feb 14 is punched with the ¾” circle punch. Just make sure that your embossing has cooled before you attempt to punch the heat embossed items. The background heart is the scalloped heart of hearts embosslit run through the big shot with Real Red Card Stock.

Monday, January 3, 2011

This is another stamp club project for this month. I wanted to design a Valentine that kids could give their classmates at school. Fox & Friends is the perfect stamp set to turn into a kid-friendly Valentine's card. With the additions of some Love Patterns Paper, Glimmer Paper and candy, this card is sure to be a hit.

Here are the details: The card base is 3" x 3". I used two 2" x 1-3/8" Ovals, sponged in early espresso ink to make a faux heart behind the circle shape. I punched two holes in the bottom with the crop-a-dile to feed the grosgrain ribbon through and then tied the smarties to the card. The small heart is punched out of glimmer paper and mounted on a dimensional for a little depth. The card fits into a mini square envelope. If you tuck the flap in the envelope and slip the card in fold first, the card fits in and the candy peeks out (see photo below).

Disclaimer

The content in this blog is the sole responsibility of Brenda Quintana as an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator and the use of and content of the classes, services, or products offered on this blog is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!